Major win for privacy? EU chat control hits wall
European Union lawmakers have moved to block untargeted mass scanning of private communications, a practice that would have allowed authorities to screen messages…
Society
Latest reporting and analysis on society.
Home office working increases fertility rate, international study finds
A study covering 38 countries by the German economic think-tank ifo Institut in co-operation with Stanford University shows couples who work from home are more likely…
UK House of Lords votes to allow abortion up to birth
The UK House of Lords has voted to allow a controversial clause on abortion legislation that removes criminal penalties for women ending their own pregnancies at…
EU lawmakers back ban on sexualised AI deepfakes
EU lawmakers today approved a ban on AI systems generating sexualised deepfakes, after a global outcry over non-consensual nudes created by Elon Musk's chatbot Grok.
Brussels vs Venice: EU slams Venice Biennale over Russia’s return
A cultural controversy in Italy over Russia’s return to the Venice Biennale, an international cultural exhibition, has sparked a political clash between European…
Anti-Semitism commissioner from German Left Party resigns
Brandenburg’s anti-Semitism commissioner has resigned from Germany’s Left Party (Die Linke) after escalating disputes over the party’s stance on Israel, warning…
Gender identity: The new compulsory European value
Is the European Court of Justice transforming the EU into a woke club where LGBT ideology, and gender identity in particular, are legally binding, in defiance of…
Senegal clamps down on homosexuality despite new EC partnership
Senegal's parliament has overwhelmingly approved a controversial bill that doubles prison sentences for same-sex relations to up to 10 years, alongside hefty fines…
Attack on Rotterdam synagogue by group claiming to target Jews
A synagogue in Rotterdam has been targeted in an arson attack early this morning.
French mayoral candidate suspected of staging anti-Semitic hate crime on himself
The mayor of Nice since 2008 and a prominent figure in the centrist Horizons party, finds himself at the centre of allegations that he orchestrated an anti-Semitic…
ECJ says member states must change gender of citizens even if national laws forbid it
The European Court of Justice (ECJ) has ruled member states must allow their citizens to have their gender changed in official documents – even if this contravenes…
Half of e-cigarettes in Europe are illegal and almost all come from China
Almost half of all e-cigarettes sold in Europe originate from irregular sources, with China supplying 90 per cent of these unregulated products, according to a study…
Spain’s PM Sánchez unveils ‘Hodio’ tool to combat ‘online hate speech’
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has announced the launch of a new government tool designed to monitor and quantify so-called hate speech on digital platforms.
Major police operation targets France’s ‘DZ Mafia’ drugs gang
French authorities have launched what officials describe as the largest operation ever carried out against the criminal group known as the DZ Mafia, as part of an…
Iranian female footballers granted asylum in Australia, ditch headscarves
Five members of Iran's women's national football team have been granted humanitarian visas to remain in Australia after fleeing their squad during the Women's Asian…
Swiss vote to enshrine use of cash in Constitution, end tax penalty for married couples
Swiss citizens have voted on several contentious issues in four nationwide referenda – approving a constitutional right to use cash, ending tax penalties for married…
“Violent act of anti-Semitism”: Explosion outside synagogue in Liege
An explosion occurred outside the synagogue of the Israeli community of Liège, a major landmark for the city’s Jewish community that also houses a museum dedicated…
Harsh prison terms for seven Spaniards for hate speech against illegal migrants
Spain's Supreme Court has upheld prison sentences for seven individuals convicted of hate crimes over social media posts targeting unaccompanied foreign minors in…
Concerns grow over influence on EU of foreign propaganda and new media
A panel discussion hosted by MEP Dominik Tarczyński yesterday explored growing concerns about foreign influence in Europe and the role of new media in addressing…
Leading scientists accuse European Commissioner of ‘misleading statements’ on smoke-free nicotine products
A coalition of 23 leading European experts in medicine, toxicology, epidemiology and addiction science has accused European Commissioner for Health and Animal Welfare…
German police conduct 13th Day of Action against online ‘hate’
On Wednesday, February 25, German law enforcement carried out a nationwide “Day of Action Against Online Hate” involving raids and interrogations in connection…
President of Belgian hunting federation violently beaten up by apparent activists
The chairman of the Belgian hunting federation Hubertus Vereniging Vlaanderen (HVV), Rudi Van Decraen (63), was severely beaten on Wednesday evening in a wooded…
Belgian media outlet officially reprimanded for publishing JD Vance speech in full
A right-leaning news outlet in Belgium, 21News, violated journalistic ethics by publishing the complete transcript of the speech made by US Vice-President J D Vance…
Iranian regime “conservative”? Never, the mullahs are like 19th century Bolsheviks
Western pundits love to call the Islamic Republic of Iran “conservative.” This label is lazy, misleading, and fundamentally wrong.
Strict passenger rights rules annually saved 8,400 years of delays, consumer organisations say
Brussels' plans to reform air-passenger compensation rights are being met with much scepticism from passenger rights organisations that adhere to the notion of "if…
Warrant or not, the cops are coming: Polish government breaches ban on double jeopardy
In recent months Poland has seen an unprecedented situation.
Italian trial highlights rise of a ‘remigration lobby’ in Europe
A right-wing Italian activist is set to stand trial for hate speech over statements he published on social media in recent years.
Exclusive interview: German lawyer decries ‘bias’ in trans-child cases
A German lawyer is accusing German authorities of bias in cases of children who want to have their sex medically changed against their parents’ wishes.
UK Quran burner wins landmark blasphemy case
A man who burned a copy of the Quran outside the Turkish consulate in London has had his acquittal upheld by the High Court.
EC says European Social Fund can be used to fund abortions
The European Commission has confirmed that European Union member states may use the European Social Fund Plus (ESF+) to support access to legal abortion services,…